Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari comfortably won his first MCE British Superbike race of the year, and clinched the maiden win for his team too. The triple champion had a 4.8 second lead over second place Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne, in what was a dominant performance by the Japanese rider -  and his first victory in over 40 races.

Byrne's team-mate Stuart Easton took his first podium of the season, with a third spot on the rostrum at his home circuit. But it will be Byrne and not Kiyo who starts from pole in race two after the Englishman broke his own lap record by one-four hundredths of a second.

It was a perfect start for Kiyo as he got the hole-shot from the opening corner, followed by Brookes and Ellison. Things were going well for the GBmoto Kawasaki rider, but on lap three he was nudged off his bike by Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Stuart Easton and the Kendal rider ended up on the gravel at the Taylor’s Hairpin, ending his 100 percent podium record. The Scot is now under investigation following the incident.

By lap six, Brookes and Byrne overtook Kiyo to go into the lead at the Hairpin. But the Japanese rider fought back to regain the lead two laps later. Byrne was not letting Brookes edge on ahead and a lap later overtook the Aussie at the Hairpin to go into second, with his team-mate Easton following suit.

But Brookes fell further back as GBmoto Kawasaki’s Chris Walker made a move that stuck, to push Brookes down to fifth on lap 11. But while all the commotion was happening further done the field Kiyo was able to push on ahead and by lap 13 had a two second lead over Byrne.

Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Waters was trying to make an impact on the top ten, on lap 14, but fell unhurt at the Hairpin, ending his changes of a solid finish. The Australian was not the only rider to crash,  John Ingram succumbed to the gravel at Duffus Dip – quickly joined by Zanotti at Hislops.

Meanwhile there was a battle between the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki duo of Byrne and Easton, with the younger of the pair trying to get the better of the triple champ, and began to close the gap with ten laps remaining, for the coveted second spot.

But that was not the only team battle out on the Scottish track – the Milwaukee Yamaha’s boys were scrapping for fifth, with Brookes managing to hold off his Devizes colleague, and began closing the gap on Walker, and by lap 24 the Bringelly rider snatched back that fourth place.

At the chequered flag Kiyo eased to victory followed by Byrne and Easton. Brookes and Walker completed the top five, followed by Bridewell and Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Dan Linfoot. WD-40’s Barry Burrell had his best finish of the year so far, ending race one in eighth.

Bathams BMW’s Patric Muff did not line up on the starting grid, along with Tsingtao's Harry Hartley as they are both suffering injuries from previous free practice and warm up sessions, so they miss the rest of the race weekend.

Buildbase BMW’s James Westmoreland had to start from pit lane after a technical issue meant he couldn’t make his way to his starting position on the grid. He had to start from the very back of the pack, and finished the race in tenth, just behind Tyco Suzuki’s John Hopkins.

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